15+ Easy Ways To Update Your Outdoor Space In A Weekend
Whether you have a garden, terrace, balcony or deck, you’ll want to make the most of it this summer.
We’re sharing some quick ideas to amp up your outdoor rooms and make them feel even fresher — without stealing too much time away from your well earned R&R. Scroll down for easy tips on how to update your outdoor space in a weekend!
1. Fire Features
Fire tables, pits and bowls come in a huge range of styles and price points. They add an instant gathering point when entertaining, and make city s’mores a weeknight perk.
House & Home May 2021
2. Hammocks
For the ultimate in relaxation, hang a hammock. It brings a hint of boho fun to a backyard and is a great place to snuggle with kids, meditate or get lost in a summer read. You don’t need to attach them to trees, many come with their own stands so they can be set up anywhere.
House & Home July 2019
3. Water Features
Water features bring another dimension to gardens, but that doesn’t mean you have to dig out a koi pond. In this birdbath, water hyacinth floats happily and sprouts purple flowers.
House & Home May 2020
5. Set Up A Play Space.
String up a net, ping pong table, or bust out the croquet set, there is no better way to enjoy your garden than engaging with friends in the fresh air.
House & Home July/August 2021
6. Potting Station
Creating a potting and staging area for plants not only makes it easier to perform tasks like repotting, it creates a pretty focal point. Set up an impromptu herb garden and enjoy fresh herbs all summer long!
House & Home May 2020
7. Install A New Light
Whether it’s a delicate strand of fairy lights or something more substantial like these woven pendants, use lighting to shift the focus day and night.
House & Home May 2021
8. Add Ferns
Flowers can be finicky but if you want instant lushness, drop a fern into a planter. You won’t have to worry about deadheading or pruning and it’s not hard to find them at garden centres looking mature and impactful.
House & Home July/August 2021
9. Hang Drapes
Instant drama is as close as a billowing breeze: drapes affixed to hard structures like pergolas, tents or even porches define outdoor rooms. Try white fabric shower curtains that can withstand rain, or inexpensive ready-made versions in gauzy cotton that will dry off quickly.
House & Home June 2014 issue
10. Bring On The Beach Vibes
Canvas is crisp, but a tropical tiki umbrella adds an instant beach resort vibe. Prices range from $20 up — these examples were found at a drugstore!
House & Home July 2012 issue
11. Repot Plants
Replace a mishmash of planters with a uniform style in a variety of sizes to make a small condo balcony seem more cohesive. Another trick for making an outdoor space look orderly and serene is the use of symmetry. H&H’s Joel Bray bought two cedars to frame the urn and give this space a polished, landscaped look.
House & Home July 2014 issue
12. Switch Up Pillows And Throws
There’s no easier (or economical) way to bring new life to outdoor seating than pulling together a new palette. Update older pieces with pillows in on-trend global inspired boho pillows in sunset hues, as Sarah Keenleyside did in her Toronto deck.
House & Home June 2021
13. Bring Indoor Furniture Outside
Hardy, fade-proof and water-resistant indoor objects (such as ceramic drum stools) can have a second life outside. Designer Mazen El-Abdallah stacks his Toronto deck with a favorite mosaic coffee table and the hyacinth shower stool (seen at left near the table), which are pulled inside in the fall.
House & Home August 2016 issue
14. Add Statement Seating
Conjure the exclusive vibe of a boutique hotel pool with expansive lounge seating that commands some respect. This cushioned, shaded chaise has A-list cred, with enough room for two.
House & Home July 2008 issue
15. Set Up A Sculpture
A classical piece can make a garden seem like a little piece of Versailles, but you don’t need to commit to a Grecian goddess. A modern piece or nature inspired-sculpture turns a dark or neglected nook into an artful discovery.
House & Home April 2010 issue
16. Add A Rug
Unroll an outdoor carpet to quickly define a space and add color and pattern. On this deck, the graphic rug ties together the sharp black and white palette.
House & Home August 2012 issue